Wheel structure



A118 1 1, 1.942- G. A. LYON 2,293,007

WHEEL STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 20, 1940 Patented Aug. 11, 1942 i UNITED STATES ViurrENr OFFICE WHEEL STRUCTURE George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J.

` Application January 20, 1040,' Serial No. 314,820

5 Claims. (Cl. 301-37) This invention relates to agwheel `structure and more particularly to an ornamental cover or trim member in cooperation therewith.

. An object of this inventionis to provide an improved Way of securing an ornamental cover or trim member to the body orrim part of a wheel. I `Still another object of this invention is to provide` a wheel structure .wherein the ornamental member serves as a seat `for retaining cooperation with the central hub cap on the wheel. Y In accordance with the'general features of this invention, .there is provided a wheel including rim andbody members and` a circular cover for dispositionfover a portion of the cuter side of` lsaidwheel of convex cross section and having an underturned continuous flexible circular flange, one-of `the members having a' bulged portion forming acorner extending into the interior of the convex cover, with said flange on one side thereof and. in .i resilient retaining `engagement withfan `adjoiningportion of the cooperating .wheelmember and with another portion of said cover on the opposite side of said corner, whereby saidcover extends around and to both sides "of said corner.` I y. i i ,g I

Stillfanother feature of the invention relates to :the'rforming ofthe cover member so as to `zhaveva centralopening in1whichis snapped a hub cap disposed inV detachable engagement with van inner marginal `portion ofthe cover member. Afstill further` feature of the invention; relates to `the utiliztionof `the `inner edge. of the cover Amember to` provide anwinturned or undercut 4shoulder againstwhich avplurality of spaced protuberances arranged i in a common circle on a `.laflexibleedgeof a hub cap are vadaptedto Abe pressed to stress the edge of the capiandfto thus .retainuthe 4cap in postion-onthe wheel.

.v @ther objects.4 andv features of this invention .fwillxmore fully; `appearfffrom the lfollowing.` de- NItailedfbdescriptionstaken .in rconnectionwwith the iaccompanyingl-z-drawing whichf illustrates several Aembodiments.thereof,i`andrin whichz l. Figure lis'l avertical cross `sectional view taken throug'moneform offmyinventiom.;

Figure-@2da a `f:.mammaryl,side new@ pafilvfinn Figure? 190k- ,A hf .8.. Threference character III d ates generalpart I I. The body part II includes a bulged portion I3 terminating in a rounded noseor corner I4, which serves as the junction between the bulged curved portion I3 and an axially extending portion I5. The portion I5 has connected to it and at right angles thereto a fastening flange I6 by means of which the` Wheel is fastened in the usual way to a suitable support. As is well known, the method of fastening involves the use of a plurality of fastening bolts or .cap screws which may be five in number as is the present This wheel member which hasbeen described thus far, as is well known, is made of metal. The

1 tire rim I0 is usually rolled, whereas the body part `II comprises a stamping. i

Cooperating with this wheel is a circular cover member II in theIforrn of an annulus which is K made ofsuitable metallic sheet and` mayl be `blanked onsuitable press equipment.'` This cover member `or annulus Il is of convex cross secftional shape` and, as will be perceived from Figures` 1 and 3, is generallyof the samecontour as the associated wheel parts or members.

`Tl'iemember I1 includes a bulged portion I8 disposed over the bulged portion I3 of the wheel member II and a marginal or ring portion I9 disposed over a portion of one ofthe flanges of the tire' lrim member I 0. The outer edge of this kportion vI9 is turned as indicated at 2l)` to provide a 1blunt edge and also to. reinforce the edge so that it willbetter resist indentation from the .force of apry-oif tool. 'I'hat is to say, it is this "edge against which the `end. of a suitable pry-off toolisapplied `for the purpose `of prying loose the member I'I from the wheel. This edge may .bedisposed in close` proximityto `the adjoining portionof the tire rim part III, or it may, if 'it is -gsotdlesired be disposed in actual `contact therewith.;

`erwheel cover. member Il also includes a MIAminded",or curved` portion ZIQdisposed radially inwardof the `hinged portion I8. rounded portion"isfofponvex crosssectional shape and extendsiarundjlthefnose.,.or corner I! ,of the Wneerjbony rrrermgeif` Il. In `einer words, the rounded portionforV `corner "I4 of `the Wheel body member telescopes or `is nested inside `of the `portion 2| of the cover member.

' am 2| terminates um En unarmed "@9I1iir1uQuS exible Circular #man dispsed at *anf oblique ang'le, as shown inFigure 3, and

adapted to have bitingengagementwith the porq y y leerme `wingermemeer 1140;, in other IZ'Jofvhlch" is ttaclida wheelbodyorspider 55 "words, with a portion'ofthe memberll `on one side of the corner I4. Thus, the cover member I1 extends clearvaround the sides of the corneri I4 and cooperates with both of these sides.

The obliquely inclined flange 22 by reason of the fact that it extends radially and axially outward is adapted to be pressed easily into position on the flange portion I5 of the wheel member II but is adapted to resist displacement. This arrangement is such that any tendency to dislodge the biting edge of the flange 22 from its retaining or gripping cooperation with the wheel enhances the gripping engagement.

The curved or bulged portion 2| of the cover member I1 provides an annular-undercut shoulder which not only defines a central opening in the wheel assembly but in addition serves as a means for retaining cooperation with a central hub cap 23. This hub cap 23 may be made of any suitable material, such for example as sheet metal, and is generally in the form of a dished body. The central portion of the cover member is bulged outwardly and terminates at its marginal portion in a turned edge 24 adapted to bear against an adjoining portion of the wheel cover member I1. The turned edge 24, in turn, is connected to an inwardly and rearwardly extending curved skirt 25 on the hub cap, which skirt is generally of the same configuration as the rounded portion 2| of the wheel cover member I1. The innermost extremity of this concavely curved skirt 25 terminates in a turned or beaded edge 26 which is continuous and is adapted to have resilient retaining cooperation with an inner ex tremity of the portion 2| of the cover member I1. This engagement takes place directly radially inwardly oi.' the point of engagement of the flange 22 with the portion I5 of the body member II.

In order` to provide for thestressing of the continuous flexible edge 26 of the hub cap 23, the edge 26 is provided at equidistantly spaced points withthree protuberances 21 (Figure 2), each of which is adapted to bear against the portion 25 of the wheel member I1 directly over the flange 22.

The three protuberances are normally arranged in a common circle the diameter of which is slightly greater than the inside diameter of the curved portion 2i of the cover member I1. As a consequence, when the hub cap is pressed axially into position in the central opening defined by the cover member I1, the three protuberances stress or deflect the continuous edge 21, so that this edge is buckled under stress and applies a hub cap retaining pressure against the undercut inner extremity of portion 2I of the cover member I1.

From the foregoing, it is of course evident that I have provided a cover member which is curved so as to extend around and to opposite sides .of a corner on a wheel member, and which is in a snap-on retaining engagement with one of these sides. In addition, I have utilized a portion of the cover member on one side of this corner of the wheel member to serve as a seat for the hub cap 23 and to retainingly cooperate in the retention of the hub cap in position on the wheel centrally of the annular cover member.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a wheel including rim and body members and a circular cover for disposition over a portion of the outer side of said wheel,

vsaid cover being of convex cross section and having an underturned continuous flexible circular flange, one Vof said wheel members having a bulged portion forming a'corner extending into the interior of said convex cover member with said flange on one side thereof and in resilient.

retaining engagement with an adjoining portion of the cooperating wheel member, another portion of said cover member being on the opposite side of said corner whereby said cover member extends around said corner, said underturned flange being inclined outwardly in both axial and radial directions so that said cover member may be pressed over said corner and whereby thereafter any tendency to dislodge the edge of said flange from retaining cooperation with the wheel causes said flange to flex in a rearward direction behind and away from the interior of said convex cover and thus enhances its gripping engagement.

2. In combination, a wheel including rim and body members and a circular cover for disposition over a portion of the outer side of said wheel, said cover being of convex cross section and having an underturned continuous ilexible circular flange, one of said Wheel members having a bulged portion forming a corner extending into the interior of said convex' cover member with said flange on one side thereof with an edge in resilient retaining engagement with an adjoining portion of the cooperating wheel member, another portion of said cover member being on the opposite side of said corne-r whereby said cover member extends around said corner, said cover member comprising an annulus having a central opening, and a hub cap snapped into retaining and detachable engagement with an inner marginal portion of said/ annulus, said marginal portion being spaced from said bulged portion and thus providing a resiliently supported and adjusted seat for said cap regardless of the position of said edge with respect to the cooperating wheel member.

3. In combination, a wheel including rim and body members and a circular cover for disposition over a portion of the outer side of said wheel having an underturned continuous flexible circular flange, one of said members having a bulged portion embraced by said cover and by said flexible flange, said flexible flange being at an inner margin of said cover and dening a circular central opening, and a hub cap snapped into retaining and detachable engagement with an inner marginal portion of said cover inside said opening, adjacent and directly opposite the point of resilient bearing of said flange against said wheel, said marginal portion being spaced from the bulged portion thus to provide a yieldably supported seat for said hub cap regardless of the position of said edge on the cooperating wheel member.

' 4. As an article of manufacture, a wheel cover of convex cross section and having an underturned continuous flexible circular ange adapted to embrace a portion of a wheel, said cover comprising an annulus with said flange on the inner peripheral margin thereof and said flange being inclined outwardly toward the outer periphery of the cover and having both radial and axial extent so that said cover may be pressed into retaining cooperation with a portion of a wheel and whereby any tendency to dislodge the of convex cross section and having an under turned continuous flexible circular ange adapted to embrace a portion of a wheel, said cover comprising an annulus with said ange on the inner peripheral margin thereof andsaid ange being inclined outwardly toward the outer periphery of the cover and having both radial and axial extent so that said cover may be pressed into retaining cooperation with a portion of a, wheel and whereby any tendency to dislodge the edge of said flange from retaining cooperation with the wheel enhances its gripping, engagement, said inclined flange being exible and having a wheel engaging edge spaced rearwardly from the body of the cover, said flange being adapted to resiliently and adjustably grip the wheel and being of such' configuration as to provide a seat for a hub cap in the center of said annulus regardless of the resiliently adjusted po.. sition of said flange on the wheel.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

